Even if one says the Queen granted the lordship, it only means that they were permitted to participate in the giant team called the kingdom. The kingdom is an armed group of numerous lords gathered under a queen, but it does not mean that the queen possesses absolute power to command the other lords without question.
The lords revere the queen as their ruler because they’re afraid of her military power. Then the tax they offer to the kingdom shows that hey have no intention of defying the Queen. It’s the friend fee that says “please don’t kill me”
Those who refuse to pay tax and don’t belong to the kingdom are labeled as monsters. Nobody complains if a monster is subjugated, anything that was in that monster’s territory becomes the property of the one who defeated them. Conversely, those who belong to the kingdom are members of the same team and subordinates of the Queen. Therefore, if you kill without reason, then the Queen will punish you. The kingdom is formed this way.
The great lords in four directions are chosen by military might. The spear and shield against the enemies against all four directions. They represent the Queen in warfare matters, authorized to conscript the surrounding lords. Since they are strong, they’re allowed to wield supreme power, because they are strong, they are favored even in taxes. The lords in the vicinity don’t bow to the authority of the Great Lord. Since they’re the strongest opponent in the neighborhood, I bow my head.
Power is justice. For the lords in this world, strength is everything. A lord without power cannot complain if they were insulted and made fun of by the other lords. A zatsuryu, an inferior species, becoming a lord. Having the patronage of the Great lord, even favored by the Great Lord’s daughter, but still a Zatsuryu.
Will the lords, who are devoted to power, accept their powerless comrade, even if he has backing?
No. That won’t happen. There’s no chance they’ll be reasonable. Those who gathered at the party venue are also Lords or people close to him. Those who protect their territories by relying on their power, the strong ones, would never accept the newcomer Zatsuryu as their fellow.
Many lords who attended the victory party looked down on Alec inwardly. They don’t recognize him as the same lord. That’s why nobody’s coming to talk to me at the party.
□
The Ricelev family rules the middle-tier territories in the northern kingdom. Aral, the head of this family, had looked down on Alec from the start.
Hearing that he’s become a new lord by being active in the dwarf subjugation in their dwelling underground in the Great mine, but in the first place, the dwarves are just a race whose asset is their toughness and skill. They’re no enemies of the Kiryu.
Is it because he took down the leader of that race? He just happened to be lucky, a zatsuryu is still a loser. He believes that he’d never reach the feet of a Kiryu.
「Yes. I’m Alec, And you are?」
「Oh, forgive me. I’m Halard Ricelev. A descendant of Ricelev-sama, the Shinryu of noble light In cases like this, you should state your family name, maybe Alec-dono hasn’t learned it yet?」
「I haven’t. I don’t go to school, I don’t even have a family name to begin with, I’m just a country man」
「Oh? Is that so? Then the lord’s job must be tough. If you have any trouble, feel free to talk to me. After allー」
Halard mocks Alec with a polite yet rude attitude. Appearing to the fact that he’s born from a reputable, noble lineage with a blood of a Shinryu, and asserting his superiority to Alec who is born without a family name. He also uses Alec’s age as reference to belittle him, calling him a dropout who learned nothing in school.
By gaining an advantage in every part of these conversations and persistently maneuvering, one can secure terms favorable to oneself in negotiations. This is the diplomacy technique pattern of the Kiryu.
Of course, a lord will never use this conversation method to someone equal or hgiher. It’s a technique of the lords used to those who are weaker than themselves.
The other main character of the party appeared, as if to cut the conversation.
「It’s been a while, Ricelev-sama. Thank you for visiting us in our victory celebration party」
「Ooh! Anastasia-sama! Congratulations on your victory! We celebrate this on behalf of our entire lineage! Still, I haven’t seen you in a while and you’ve become truly beautiful, just line Adrine-sama」
「It’s wonderful to see you doing well, Ricelev」
「Thank you. However, Anastasia-sama, please call me Halard」
Halard bows to Anastasia. The long blonde hair is gleaming as proof.
「If you call me Ricelev, it might be mistaken as my son, Leonard」
「You’re right. In that case, allow me to call you Halard-sama」
The descendant of the noble light Shinryu. Ricelev, the Kiryu of the family with the light attribute.
They were a clan that ruled a moderately sized territory in the north, and they were family of Leonard, an Aquaintance of Anastasia.